Robert Tillman was born in Boley, Okla., and later moved to Wichita, Kan. He received bachelor's degrees in sociology, psychology and minority studies from Wichita State University and a master's degree in sociology from Wichita State University.

Tillman spent more than 30 years working in social services, including 24 years working for the judicial system as a court services officer. He retired as a supervisor in May 2008.

Earlier in his life he held a number of jobs, including teaching and working for Wichita aviation companies.

Tillman served as a precinct committeeman. He ran unsuccessfully in 2008 for the Democratic nomination for the 4th Congressional District, losing to state Rep. Raj Goyle.

Tillman and his wife, Linda, reside in Wichita. He has two children from a previous relationship.

Robert Tillman is seeking the 4th Congressional District seat in south-central Kansas for the second time. If successful, he would become the first black from Kansas ever elected to Congress.

His 2012 opponent is freshman incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Pompeo. The district was last held by a Democrat from 1976 until 1994, when Dan Glickman lost to Republican Todd Tiahrt, part of the GOP wave that swept through the nation and took control of Congress.

Tiahrt gave up the seat in 2010 to make an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate.

Tillman spent most of his life working in the judicial system, serving 24 years as a court services officer. He retired in 2008. He served two terms as a precinct committeeman but his only real political experience came in 2010 when he ran for the Democratic nomination for the 4th District.

He was defeated by state Rep. Raj Goyle, also of Wichita, who eventually lost to Pompeo in the general election.

Tillman describes himself as proud to be a Democrat in a Republican-leaning state. The district is centered on Wichita, the largest city in Kansas, known for nearly a century as a hub of aviation manufacturing, both commercial and general aircraft.

But Tillman believes that poverty and health care issues are being ignored by Republicans and would focus on protecting funding for social programs.

He listed 30 reasons for running for the office, including his anger with Republicans, frustration where the country was heading and his desire and ability to serve in public office to help others.

Tillman is not expected to receive much attention or funding from outside Kansas leading up to the general election. The race has not been targeted by the Democratic Party as a potential pickup in November 2012.

Tillman funded his primary campaign largely from his own funds, spending about $58,000 to mount his campaign against Esau Freeman, an artist and home and maintenance painter also from Wichita.